Langa firefighter Simamkele Tutsheni prepares for world boxing title fight
Simamkele Tutsheni, a firefighter from Langa, will challenge Poland’s Laura Grzyb for the IBO World Super Bantamweight title on March 15.
Image: Supplied
A 24-year-old firefighter from Langa who spends her days battling dangerous blazes on Table Mountain is now preparing to face a different kind of heat, a world boxing title fight in Poland.
Simamkele Tutsheni, an undefeated professional boxer with an 8-0 record, will challenge Poland’s Laura Grzyb for the IBO World Super Bantamweight title in Jastrzębie-Zdrój on March 15.
By day, Tutsheni works as a firefighter in the Western Cape, responding to emergencies and wildfires across the region. But for the past few weeks she has swapped firefighting gear and oxygen tanks for boxing gloves while preparing for the biggest fight of her career.
The 24-year-old is currently on special leave from the fire station as she trains for the world title bout.
Golden Gloves CEO Rodney Berman said Tutsheni’s ability to balance the demands of firefighting and professional boxing makes her stand out among South African fighters.
“Simamkele is an exceptional athlete with a remarkable story,” said Berman.
“To serve as a firefighter and pursue an undefeated professional boxing career at the same time speaks volumes about her discipline, courage and mental strength. We believe she has all the tools to become a world champion and to further elevate South African women’s boxing internationally.”
Tutsheni says facing a world champion in her opponent’s home country does not intimidate her.
“I’m not afraid of fighting in her backyard,” she said.
“I fought my first fight, and my most recent, away from home, and won both times. Grzyb is flexible and more experienced, but I have to be ready. It will be my toughest fight, but I’ll be victorious.”
She trains at the Blood, Sweat and Tears Gym in Sea Point under coach Felix Vengenayi, describing her training camp as intense.
Tutsheni discovered boxing after moving from the Eastern Cape and training at a gym in Langa, where she initially wanted to learn how to defend herself.
Since turning professional she has remained undefeated and believes her experience as a firefighter has helped shape her mental toughness.
“It’s fun and we help protect the environment,” she said of her firefighting work.
Although her family will not be able to attend the fight in Poland, supporters in Langa and Wynberg will be watching the bout on SuperSport.
Tutsheni said she hopes her success will help raise the profile of women’s boxing in South Africa.
“I tell myself there’s only one winner,” she said. “And I train to win.”